Adolf (Alter Nisilew) Mühlmann

http://forgottenoperasingers.blogspot.com/2016/05/adolf-muhlmann-ba...

(from the Catalog of the Chicago Musical College, 1911-1912)

Vocal Department

ADOLF MUHLMANN The name of Adolf Muhlmann distinguished the world over through his association with the most notable performances of Grand Opera was two years ago added to the teaching list of the Chicago Musical College. Mr. Muhlmann lends his services to a school well known for the number of celebrated artists it has engaged and the Chicago Musical College gained one of the most eminent finished and capable teachers who has ever honored its faculty.

Mr Muhlmann was born in the village of Schiriwa, in Southern Russia and was educated for the priesthood. At the age of eighteen his love of music overcame him and he ran away from his school. He arrived in Vienna penniless but existed somehow or other and managed to take up his musical studies. A small income as church singer [sic. actually a cantor] and the modest stipend allowed him by the art-loving Baroness Koenigswarter had to suffice to keep him during the three years of study prior to his first engagement in Rotterdam. For two years more he sang and studied in the Holland city. Then Director Lowe of Breslau sent for him. He remained in Breslau six years and went from there to St. Petersburg where his success resulted in his engagement by the Royal Opera at Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York. In this country his splendid reputation rests principally upon his achievements with the last named company. Jean DeReszke, who sang with Muhlmann in St. Petersburg, was directly responsible for this artist's coming to America. As a teacher, Muhlmann first displayed his superiority in Berlin and established within a very short time an enviable reputation.

In remembrance of his own vicissitudes, Muhlmann has called into being a national fund for opera students a number of scholarships for talented pupils without means and his colleagues Mme Schumann-Heink, Geraldine Farrar, Johanna Gadski, Bella Alten, Antonio Scotti, Albert Reiss, Director Andreas Dippel, and Director Lowe of Breslau, have shown the esteem in which they hold Mr. Muhlmann by assuming protectorate positions.

Muhlmann, Adolf Alter; b. Schiriwa, Russia, 1866/1867. Conservatories (Odessa, Vienna). • Operatic baritone, musical dir, tchr, Chicago; music critic Chicago Abendpost; autobiography. • See: UJE;AJYB, 24:184; WWIAJ, 1926,1928,1938; BEOAJ; WWWIA, 4. (http://media.americanjewisharchives.org/docs/concise/m.pdf)

ADOLF MÜHLMANN. Schiriwa (or Kischineff), Bessarabia, 1866 (or 1865) - Chicago, 1938. The son of a Rabbi, Mühlmann (born Alter Milman) was expected to follow his father’s path. However, at the age of eighteen, his love of music overcame him and he ran away to Vienna, arriving penniless. He survived there as a Cantor and through a small stipend provided by an art loving Baroness. As an opera singer, he gained experience in Rotterdam, Breslau and St Petersburg. His success led to seasons at the Metropolitan Opera and the Covent Garden Royal Opera. At the Met (1898-1910) he was heard in 54 roles, including such parts as the Dutchman (Flying Dutchman), Monterone and Sparafucile (Rigoletto), Wolfram (Tannhäuser), Silvio (Pagliacci), and the Commendatore (Don Giovanni), to mention only a few. He was also a guest at the Vienna Hofoper (1902) and in the U.S. He was also remembered for his work at Covent Garden. In later years he became an esteemed teacher and encouraged the development of funds for, in particular, needy students, remembering his own vicissitudes in his formative student years. (http://www.holdridgerecords.com/auction_pdfs/18.4_Vocal_78s_Marcel-...)

Marriage

Adolph Muhlmann (1866-1938)

He was born into jewish family. His real name was Alter Milman. During three years he received singing lessons by a Jewish choirmaster and as a member of choir he sang in the synagogue of Odessa. In 1887 he went to Vienna to continue his education.

In 1890 he made his debut at the German Theater in Rotterdam, remained there for a season and sang in the 1891-1892 season at the Opernhaus in Düsseldorf. In the 1892-1898 seasons he joined to the Theater in Wroclaw. In 1898 he became a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. During the following twelve years he appeared there in a huge number of parts.

In the 1899-1903 seasons he made guest appearances at Covent Garden in London. In 1902 he sang at Hofoper in Wien. As a guest Mühlmann also performed at the Court Opera of St Petersburg. In North America he sang at the opera houses of Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

After ending of his stage career he sat down in Chicago as pedagogue and music critic. His repertoire included Pizarro in ‘’Fidelio’’, Telramund in ‘’Lohengrin’’, Wolfram in ‘’Tannhäuser’’, Kothner in "Meistersingern", Gunther in "Götterdämmerung", father in ‘’Hansel and Gretel’’ etc.

Chronology of some appearances:

• 1890 Rotterdam - German Theater.
• 1891-1892 Düsseldorf - Opernhaus.
• 1892-1898 Wroclaw - Theater.
• 1898-1910 New York - Metropolitan Opera.
• 1899-1903 London - Covent Garden.
• 1902 Vienna - Hofoper.

(https://mahlerfoundation.org/mahler/personen-2/adolph-muhlmann)